Sierra Wireless Modems has been awarded a contract by Pro Tech to track offenders using GPS satellites and real-time wireless data.
Pro Tech will use wireless modules to transmit information in monitoring the location of offenders under community supervision such as probation and parole.
Sierra was selected by Pro Tech Monitoring as part of their patented “offender satellite surveillance system”. The SB 220 OEM module is located in the portable tracking device (PTD) that transmits wireless data back to the Surveillance Data Centre.
“Our business aims at taking offender monitoring into the 21st
century and Sierra Wireless was a clear choice of partner in our
integrated, breakthrough wireless solution,” said Bob Martinez, PTM,
President and former Governor of Florida.
“This contract highlights Sierra continued strategy to deliver
practical, effective wireless solutions to new segments of the public
safety market,” said Jason Cohenour, Sierra Wireless Vice President
of Sales. “The SB 220 allows us to deliver a compact, feature rich
product in the smallest form factor.”
“The SB220’s flexible form factor and easy configuration made it
the perfect option for our complete wireless solution,” said Hoyt M.
Layson Jr., Vice President, PTM and Inventor of SMART.
How the Wireless Solution Works
The offender is fitted with an ankle bracelet and given a PTD
that monitors the proximity of the ankle bracelet. Global
Positioning System (GPS) satellites track the PTD’s location 24 hours
a day. Corrections personnel can declare any area off-limits and
establish a daily schedule for the offender. Off limit areas and
daily schedules are programmed to the offender’s PTD using cellular
communications. If the “hot zone” is violated, the offender is
notified of the violation and a wireless message also advises the
supervision agency of the violation.
Victims at risk also receive advance warning that the offender is
in the hot zone, giving the victim the necessary time to move away
from the offender. Victim notification can occur via fax, pager or
cellular telephone.
The wireless data is currently transmitted via circuit-switched
cellular (CSC), which is based on the amps networks used on today’s
cellular phones. Future implementation of Cellular Digital Packet
Data (CDPD) network is planned.
The SB220 OEM Module
The SB220 represents the smallest form factor with multi-mode
access capability. Chosen by leading developers of mobile computing
solutions, the module equips your system with dual wireless data
modes (CDPD or CSC) and wireline and fax as standard.
